Mosquito-borne deadly virus in area

LAMAR — Health officials in Prowers County have confirmed two cases of West Nile virus here.

Prowers County Public Health and Environment officials said Tuesday that they have received lab confirmation of the deadly virus in a sample pool of mosquitoes collected July 15.

“This positive result is from a number of surveillance locations in and around the city,” officials said in a statement.

Seth Odette, environmental health specialist for Prowers County Public Health and Environment, said the health department began surveillance in late June and that this positive result is the second in a mosquito pooling in the county’s surveillance area.

Odette said that there has now been positive confirmation of West Nile for two consecutive weeks.

The health department is urging citizens to increase preventative measures.

“The good news is that West Nile virus is preventable, and now is the time to take precautions against the disease,” said Keith Siemsen, department manager.